The 14-X is the Brazilian hypersonic aircraft, named in tribute to the 14-bis of Alberto Santos-Dumont. This aircraft is equipped with a scramjet engine, which is integrated into fuselage and has no moving parts. The operating principle is that, during the flight, the air is compressed by geometry and speed of the vehicle and directed to the engine at the bottom of the aircraft. Hydrogen is used as the fuel.

History

The project is already being tested in the “T3” Brazilian Air Force hypersonic wind tunnel. It will be an UAV but not able to put satellites in orbit because of it’s airbreathing engine and unsufficient speed. The aircraft was originally planned to be active in 2010, but delays have made the Brazilian air force postpone it to 2012. It has been constructed in Brazilian Air Force’s Instituto de Estudos Avançados” (Institute for Advanced Studies). The vehicle will utilize the “Waverider” concept. A friction wave in the inferior part of the aircraft will give it sustainability.